UPDATE:

– The football game and tailgating will continue as planned as long as there is no lightning.  Umbrellas are not allowed in the stadium, but ponchos are available for purchase in the Campus Bookstore.

– The food for the picnic has been moved indoors, and there will be both indoor and outdoor seating options.  If your last name begins with A-H, please go to Harden Dining Hall.  If your last name begins with I-Z, please go to Moseley Center.

Several special events for grandparents are available this year, including a presentation by humorist Jeanne Robertson. A limited number of tickets are still available for Robertson’s speech, which is also open to parents and other members of the Elon community. E-mail parentprograms@elon.edu to reserve your free tickets. 

Visit the Family Weekend Web site for a complete schedule and registration information. 

Romer’s presentation was titled “Voltaire Rocks: Enhancing Literature (and Language) Courses through the Use of Multi-Media Technologies.”

Several special events for grandparents are available this year, including a presentation by humorist Jeanne Robertson.

Visit the Family Weekend Web site for a complete schedule and registration information.

More than an hour before Clinton was scheduled to arrive, sophomores Chase Tucker and Mark Olsen staked their spot in front of Fonville Fountain. Tucker said he couldn’t pass up the chance to hear the former president.

“I’m undecided about who I’m going to vote for, and I think this will help me gain more information,” Tucker said. “Both (Democratic) candidates seem like a breath of fresh air because they’re different from who’s usually elected president. They bring a different perspective into it.”

Olsen said he hoped to hear Clinton speak about his wife’s position on improving the economy and ending the war in Iraq.

“A lot of people are worried about those issues,” Olsen said. “I’m interested to see what he says.”

Senior Breanna Detwiler has been a fan of Bill Clinton since the age of 5, when her mother brought her into the voting booth as she cast a ballot for Clinton. She fulfilled a lifelong dream when she was chosen to meet the former president before his speech Wednesday.

“He’s one of my heroes,” she said. “I’m very interested in working in the public sector and environmental justice, and the work he and Hillary have done with the environment is just exceptional.”

Although Detwiler was excited to see her hero, she said she still wasn’t sure how to vote.

“This is the first time we’ve gotten to choose between good and good,” she said. “I’m on the fence between Hillary and Obama.”

Junior Hannah McConaghy was also undecided about her favorite candidate. She said she was excited to hear Bill Clinton’s perspective on the campaign.

“Everyone is getting caught up in Obama because of his charisma, but I wanted to hear this side, too,” she said. “I think there are definitely places on both sides that I can relate to.”

Sociology professor Tom Arcaro has already decided to vote for Obama, but he said he was pleased Clinton chose to speak at Elon.

“It’s a great experience for students and the community,” he said. “It’s a chance to see the political process in our front yard.”

Applications for the first Lumen Prizes will be accepted in spring2008, and the first Lumen Scholars will receive their awards for useduring the 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.

“The Lumen Prize will recognize students who inspire all of us with their ambitious and serious intellectual pursuits,” Lambert said. “My hope is that the Lumen Scholars will be highly talented sophomores who will imagine how their junior and senior years can be used in the most intellectually rigorous and creative ways, enabling them to compete well for scholarships and fellowships at the nation’s top graduate schools. Professor Janet Myers, Elon’s fellowship adviser, will also be providing special mentoring and encouragement to Lumen Scholars to prepare the Lumen Scholars to compete successfully for top academic honors such as the Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Rotary scholarships.”

Applications for the first Lumen prizes are due March 20. To qualify,students must be in their second year at Elon and hold a cumulative GPAof 3.50 or above. They must be nominated by a member of the Elonfaculty or staff and must plan to remain enrolled at Elon for two moreyears.

Lumen applicants will map out their vision for their junior and senioryears, developing a plan for coursework, research, creative productionsor performances, service projects, travel, summer workshops orinstitutes, and international study or internships. Top candidates willarticulate a set of goals that are clear, focused and scholarly, anddemonstrate intellectual curiosity and originality.

Led by Paul Fromson, professor of psychology, a selection committee will review applications and decide upon the awards.

The name for the Lumen Prize comes from Elon’s historic motto, “NumenLumen,” which are Latin words meaning “spiritual light” and”intellectual light.” The words, which are found on the 51±¬ÁÏÍøseal, signify the highest purposes of an Elon education.

The Elon Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the LumenPrize in September, 2007, and Lambert appointed Fromson to implementthe new program with the help of a 14-member advisory group. Faculty who served on the advisory group included the following: Tom Arcaro, Mary Jo Festle, Karl Sienerth, Connie Book, Nancy Harris, Robert Vick, Scott Buechler, Anthony Hatcher, Helen Walton, Ann Cahill, Janet Myers, Rex Waters, Michael Fels and Janice Richardson.

For more information or to apply for the Lumen Prize, go to .